Footwear



Dec. 25, 41945. s, LUDWlG 2,391,720

' FOOTWEAR Filed Oct. 21, 1944 IZ b 9 +4 grr-55 ATTI Patented Dec. 25, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FOOTWEAR l Samuel Ludwig, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Application October 21, 1944, Serial No. 559,680

(C1. Sti-11.5)

3 Claims.

My invention appertains to the novel construction and arrangement of an adjustable sole for footwear, particularly of the slipper or beach sandal type, but is not necessarily confined to this class of foot piece.

The primary object of the'invention is to provide a sole which is adapted to fit various sized feet over a wide range which obviates the necessity of having to manufacture the footwear in the ordinary graduated sizes, and is of considerable benefit to a merchant as he is not required to stock up with a range of sizes. These and other advantages will be readily appreciated by those schooled in the trade.

A further object of the invention is to provide a sole having at least a frontal portion which has the quality of flexibility and suppleness such that it can be readily bent upwardly over the toe portion of a persons foot for adjustment to suit the length of a foot, and which is devised with means for securing the bent portion in any position of adjustment.

A still further object is to produce a sole in which the bent front end is supplied with inwardly projecting marginal walls or ridges adapted to reinforce the same and guard against the entrance of particles of matter or dirt in the openings formed at the edges of the bend, particularly when the sole is adjusted for a large sized foot. Said side walls or ridges desirably are constructed in part of an elastic member.

A distinctive feature of the invention is that it provides a comfortable slipper, beach shoe or other foot piece that is commodious and adapted to afford necessary protection for the foot of the wearer. The upper may be of any ordinary shape or style and the bent over portion of the sole may be secured to the vamp and forms a part thereof. The attachment provides for the necessary adjustment as to foot size.

'I'he invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a foot piece embodying the invention and showing the front portion of the sole spread out nat.

Fig. 2 is an aspect of the foot piece in which the sole is adjusted for a small sized foot.

Fig. 3 is a similar view to Fig. 2 but showing the sole adjusted for a large sized foot.

Fig. 4 is a cross section taken on line -lof Fig. 3.

Like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in each of the figures throughout the drawing of the invention.

In performing my invention 1 provide a slipper,

Cil

beach sandal orother foot piece with a sole, as at 5, which is of a flexible character either throughout its entire length or at least at its frontal portion such that it may readily flex to form a return bend along a transverse line so as to extend over the forepart of the wearers foot. The sole is of the ordinary shape or contour and may be made of leather or other approved material. It is of a length and Width to suit a large sized foot and the front end is prolonged as at B so as to have su'icient length for folding over the front end of the same as illustrated in Fig. 3. The folded-over section of the sole forms a cap for protection of the toe portion of the foot.

To adopt the sole to a foot of a smaller size the front end 6 is bent over at a different place to produce the foot length desiredsee Fig. 2.

The upper, denoted as a whole by the numeral l, may be of a conventional type and that shown in the drawing is given by way of example only. The vamp part includes means suitable for securing the folded front end of the sole and enabling it to be fastened in different positions of adjustment according to foot size. For this purpose th'e upper 'l may include side pieces 8 at the forefoot attached to the sole by stitching or otherwise secured thereto and terminated short of the foldable front section 6. The side pieces are provided with fastening means by which the front end of the sole is secured when bent to suit the wearers foot. The fastening means consists of a series of eyelets 9 for a lace I which is connected to said front end 6 by the provision of eyelets ll. It will be clearly understood that by this arrangement the bent portion of the sole can be secured in any position of adjustment by using eyelets in the side pieces 8 that correspond to the folded disposition of the sole. It will also be understood that the invention is not conned to th'e specific fastening means herein disclosed and that otherA devices may be resorted to for this purpose.

With a view to preventing the entrance of particles of debris in the opening l2 at the sides of the folded front end of the sole and to more fully protect the toe portion of the foot it is proposed to provide shallow marginal Walls I3 along the front end E adapted to bend at any point along their length in conjunction with th'e folding of said front end. Said walls preferably comprise tubular inelastic members I4 having a core of elastic material I5 secured at its ends under tension, see Fig. 4. Such a construction facilitates flexing of these walls and reduces wrinkling of the material thereof. The members I 4 may be provided with attachment flanges I 6 by which they are sewn to the sole.

It will be evident from the preceding specification that my invention provides a sole having the feature of adjustability by the provision of exibility and elongation by which the forepart may be bent over the forefoot to suit the length of a persons foot, and in which means are provided to secure the bent forepart of the sole in size-adjusted position.

While I have illustrated one practical mode of carrying out my invention it will be understood that such changes and modications may be resorted to as come Within the spirit and scope of the subjoined claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a foot piece, an upper having a vamp open at the toe portion, a sole connected thereto having a exble front end which projects forwardly of the open toe portion of said vamp and is of a length adapting it to be exed upwardly and rearwardly over the vamp to compose a toe protector Whose exibility enables it to be adjusted to different foot lengths, means for securing said front end of the sole to the vamp and in any position of adjustment, and wall-forming elements at the side's of said front end of the sole.

2. A structure as set forth in claim 1, in which each of the Wall-forming elements comprises an elastic member.

3. A structure as set forth in claim l, in which each of the wall-forming elements comprises a tubular member of inelastic material, and a core therein of elastic material under tension.

SAMUEL LUDWIG. 

